§ Mr. FINNEYasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that nine men at Bignall End, Staffordshire, have made repeated application for small holdings to the Staffordshire County Council, North Staffordshire Small Holdings Committee, and that they are still pressing for their application to be granted; whether he is aware that the area of a certain farm there is 212 acres and that only 40 acres thereof are being cultivated, that if allowed the necessary land the nine men are prepared to work the same on co-operative principles, that they do not ask the Treasury for financial assistance, and that they will provide themselves with the necessary capital and equipment; and whether, in view of their offer and the needs of the country with respect to home-grown food supplies, he will take the necessary steps with the local authorities concerned to arrange for small holdings to be allowed to these nine patriotic working men as requested?
§ Sir R. WINFREYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With reference to the second part, the Board have no reason to suppose that, by taking the land referred to from its present occupier and handing it over to the applicants, its productiveness would be increased. The war agricultural committee will, no doubt, see that the land is properly cultivated. As regards finance, I may explain that there is no question of the men themselves requiring financial assistance to enable them to cultivate small holdings. As I stated in my answer to the hon. Member's question on 21st May, the county council are still unable to acquire land by purchase for these men, or to equip land, however acquired, for small holdings. The Board have now asked the applicants whether they can suggest suitable alternative land, and will take all possible steps to provide the men with small holdings.